Comments on: The Secret to Search Engine Optimization: It’s About the Content, Stupid! http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2009/08/14/the-secret-to-search-engine-optimization-its-about-the-content-stupid/ How to turn prospects into buyers with content marketing Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:27:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Sharon Swendner http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2009/08/14/the-secret-to-search-engine-optimization-its-about-the-content-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-27714 Sharon Swendner Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:35:06 +0000 http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2009/08/14/the-secret-to-search-engine-optimization-its-about-the-content-stupid/#comment-27714 I think we all agree that it is always about well written and credible content in terms of the user experience and value provided by the website. However as long as the search engines are programmed to look for certain things within that content in order to deed it "relevant" then as SEO experts we will need to find the blend between serving both masters. Searchers don't serendipitously just find our beautiful prose. While e-word of mouth and other viral sharing can help, the fact is that most people find the content they are looking for via search. And for those who are not necessarily looking for your specific content, no matter how well written, without the use of keywords and SEO writing techniques, your ability to get that content into more hands is limited. As the search engines get smarter (semantic search, Wolfram Alpha, Bing's "decision engine") and individuals start engaging more in influencing search results, perhaps the standard SEO writing guidelines will become less important. But for now, there are things that SEO Experts do to increase the likelihood that your site and your content, good or bad, will be seen and this has value to web content owners working to get more exposure to their websites. I think we all agree that it is always about well written and credible content in terms of the user experience and value provided by the website. However as long as the search engines are programmed to look for certain things within that content in order to deed it “relevant” then as SEO experts we will need to find the blend between serving both masters. Searchers don’t serendipitously just find our beautiful prose. While e-word of mouth and other viral sharing can help, the fact is that most people find the content they are looking for via search. And for those who are not necessarily looking for your specific content, no matter how well written, without the use of keywords and SEO writing techniques, your ability to get that content into more hands is limited.
As the search engines get smarter (semantic search, Wolfram Alpha, Bing’s “decision engine”) and individuals start engaging more in influencing search results, perhaps the standard SEO writing guidelines will become less important. But for now, there are things that SEO Experts do to increase the likelihood that your site and your content, good or bad, will be seen and this has value to web content owners working to get more exposure to their websites.

]]> By: Newt Barrett http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2009/08/14/the-secret-to-search-engine-optimization-its-about-the-content-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-27621 Newt Barrett Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:13:09 +0000 http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2009/08/14/the-secret-to-search-engine-optimization-its-about-the-content-stupid/#comment-27621 Fiorenza, thanks for taking the time to comment. Great content isn't easy to create but is well worth the effort. Fiorenza, thanks for taking the time to comment. Great content isn’t easy to create but is well worth the effort.

]]> By: fiorenza mella http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2009/08/14/the-secret-to-search-engine-optimization-its-about-the-content-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-27608 fiorenza mella Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:02:45 +0000 http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2009/08/14/the-secret-to-search-engine-optimization-its-about-the-content-stupid/#comment-27608 Thanks Newt for this post. This quote explains the value of content and also the value of those who can offer the quality of content. Fiorenza "That savvy SEO copywriting, in the brilliant words of Lisa Barone, is supposed to entice, entertain, engage and educate." Thanks Newt for this post. This quote explains the value of content and also the value of those who can offer the quality of content. Fiorenza “That savvy SEO copywriting, in the brilliant words of Lisa Barone, is supposed to entice, entertain, engage and educate.”

]]> By: Chris Griffith http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2009/08/14/the-secret-to-search-engine-optimization-its-about-the-content-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-26644 Chris Griffith Sat, 15 Aug 2009 02:21:40 +0000 http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2009/08/14/the-secret-to-search-engine-optimization-its-about-the-content-stupid/#comment-26644 Newt, content is still king. It always has been. It may be harder than heck to create it, but those who do reap the rewards. As a real estate agent business goes through slow and busy spells. My slow spells are about content and it's paid off 1,000 fold. I'm so glad I'm a nerd sometimes. :) Newt, content is still king. It always has been. It may be harder than heck to create it, but those who do reap the rewards.

As a real estate agent business goes through slow and busy spells. My slow spells are about content and it’s paid off 1,000 fold.

I’m so glad I’m a nerd sometimes. :)

]]> By: Newt Barrett http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2009/08/14/the-secret-to-search-engine-optimization-its-about-the-content-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-26615 Newt Barrett Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:43:50 +0000 http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2009/08/14/the-secret-to-search-engine-optimization-its-about-the-content-stupid/#comment-26615 Heather, it was my pleasure. All too often, I have clients and prospects who think some magic combo of keywords will rank them #1 on search engines. So, I was delighted to see your vindication of the importance of content at the core. Heather, it was my pleasure. All too often, I have clients and prospects who think some magic combo of keywords will rank them #1 on search engines. So, I was delighted to see your vindication of the importance of content at the core.

]]> By: Heather Lloyd-Martin http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2009/08/14/the-secret-to-search-engine-optimization-its-about-the-content-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-26604 Heather Lloyd-Martin Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:42:00 +0000 http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2009/08/14/the-secret-to-search-engine-optimization-its-about-the-content-stupid/#comment-26604 Thanks so much, Newt, for profiling this blog post. I just finished presenting at Search Engine Strategies where I talked about SEO copywriting and content marketing strategy. It's both encouraging and depressing to hear people say, "Oh, you mean that writing good content is MORE than just keyphrases?" Then again, kudos to conferences like SES that help spread the word that *quality* content is what counts - not random pages designed exclusively for search engine positioning. Thanks again! Thanks so much, Newt, for profiling this blog post. I just finished presenting at Search Engine Strategies where I talked about SEO copywriting and content marketing strategy. It’s both encouraging and depressing to hear people say, “Oh, you mean that writing good content is MORE than just keyphrases?” Then again, kudos to conferences like SES that help spread the word that *quality* content is what counts – not random pages designed exclusively for search engine positioning.

Thanks again!

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